SWIHA Blog

Just as taking a program at SWIHA is transformational, so is creating one. And, it starts from the same place—identifying a need!

The impetus for this program came from noticing an important clarity that emerged from our current Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Practitioner program (HNWP). 

The HNWP is an excellent program which aligns with National Association for Nutritional Professionals (NANP).  As a result, the program is heavily saturated in holistic nutrition and science education.

Many people are opting to remove dairy from their diet, opening their eyes to the many alternatives and getting creative with ways to recreate traditionally dairy-based items! Janet Lee, a raw food chef and SWIHA Holistic Nutrition instructor, recently shared on a Facebook Live video for #WellnessWednesday two ways to make delicious and nutritious coconut yogurt.

Coconuts have numerous health benefits – they contain fiber, manganese, copper, iron and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), supporting your heart and bones, healthy weight loss, as well as having many essential electrolytes to prevent fatigue. When you add probiotics to the mix for gut health, you have a treat that is yummy and supportive of your total wellness.

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we dedicate ourselves daily to our mission of inspiring individuals to discover their gifts and graces and support them as they share their talents with the world in a loving and profitable way. It was this idea that resonated with SWIHA graduate, Melissa Richardson:  “I didn't want to work for anyone else,” she says, “I wanted to make my own way and chart my own course. I had my own ideas of how I wanted to participate and give to the world.”

Melissa is a licensed Massage Therapist in Buffalo, New York. She loves what she does and one day realized that, while she was making a difference for her clients, she felt she was only helping them temporarily and in a physical way.

“I grew up in steak and potato country. My close friends can confirm that I never ate a vegetable,” says Amanda Webster, a graduate of the Mind Body Wellness Practitioner program  “Not surprisingly, I was plagued with symptoms of depression and anxiety and had trouble coping with life.”

During her first month at SWIHA, Amanda recalls sitting in Dr. Mahdi's classes wondering "What the heck is the picture on the screen?"

“Health and Nutrition Coaching is a type of life coaching focused on moving the client forward on the path of health. One foundational pillar of this coaching is that of ‘bio-individuality’; the idea that each person is unique in their biology and will therefore will need to discover what works for their own, unique experience,” Alex Kurth, a SWIHA graduate, tells us, ”The client must do the work, however the coach is their biggest fan and is always cheering them on and rooting for a win.”

Before becoming a Wellness Coach through her business, A Kurth Life, Alex Kurth was facilitating the Memory Care Program at an assisted living facility for seniors who had Alzheimer's and Dementia.

“Life coaching allows people to answer their own questions when we provide them with the proper tools and guidance to discover what they are seeking clarity around,” says Sheila Marcella Taylor, a Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduate with a diverse toolbox which includes Yoga Body Psychology, Holistic Nutrition, and - of course - Life Coaching!

At Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, we actively encourage our students to work through their fears and hesitations around entrepreneurship. Harsha Bipin, a Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner graduate, is a brilliant example of what can happen when you take a leap of faith in yourself!

“My previous life was of a software engineer,” Harsha explains, “it had a lot to do with me and the needs of my immediate family.”

“I joined SWIHA while I was on a maternity break, hoping to just do the Holistic Nutrition program to learn more about eating right. I had faced a huge positive shift in my life by changing my eating habits, and I knew there was more to learn.”

While the food and traditions may vary, every Thanksgiving table has one thing in common: tons of food. Our digestive system is always hard at work, and the sweets, fats & gluten that come with the holiday season can be especially tough on our friendly flora. However, there are a few simple things you can do to help your body stay happy and healthy -- even if you reach for that second piece of pumpkin pie!

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of many. It means family, friends and (most importantly) food — what’s not to love? You don’t have to sacrifice your health goals or your happiness with these easy and satisfying side dishes that even the most particular eaters will gobble gobble right up!

“SWIHA changed my life,” says Caitlin Goehring, a Mind-Body Wellness Practitioner graduate, “I don’t know where I’d be without these courses - it catapulted my spiritual growth and journey and brought me more in alignment than ever before.”

Caitlin was pulled to study holistic nutrition after witnessing illness in her family since a young age, “I’ve always believed in the healing power of food and wanted to support others in this. I had no idea the amount of spiritual downloads that I was in! I can best support my clients through nutrition, intuitive eating, and other spiritual practices such as astrology, tarot, and flower essences.”